Hydraulic watch



Nov. 17., 1970 s. A. KOCK HYDRAULIC WATCH Filed ma 22. 1968 5Sheets-Sheet 1 w INVENTOR.

Bruce A. Kock 2744, 924

B. A. KOCK HYDRAULIC WATCH Nov. 17, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22,"1968 INVENTOR.

7 Bruce A. Kock BY Z4, M 424% 99 Attorneys Nov. 17, 1970 B. A. KOCKHYDRAULIC WATCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 22, 1968 Fig. 5

INVENTOK Bruce A. Kock myw I Attorneys I Nov. 17,1970 B. A. KOCK3,540,208

HYDRAULIC WATCH Filed May 22, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTOR. .Bruce A. Kock florneys Nov. 17, 1970 B. A. KOCK HYDRAULICWATCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 22, 1968 INVENTOR. Bruce A. Kock BYUnited States Patent Ofiice 3,540,268 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,208HYDRAULIC WATCH Bruce A. Kock, 6017 Ocean View Drive, Oakland, Calif.94618 Filed May 22, 1968, Ser. No. 731,076 Int. Cl. G041) 1/26 U.S. Cl.58-42 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A watch wherein timing isaccomplish by the movement of a piston through a fluid under theinfluence of a spring. Movement of the piston is sensed by a wire woundabout a shaft which is in turn connected to the hands of the watch bymeans of a continuous belt. A jump hour hand is incorporated whereby thehour hand moves from one hour indicia to the next during the last fiveminutes of movement by the minute hand. A clicking sound is generated bypassing a circular comb over the teeth of a gear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past, timepieces and particularlywrist watches have been designed utilizing a pendulum in some form oranother for the determination of timing. The pendulum has taken the formof balance wheels or other devices in association with intricateescapements. The nature of the balance wheel escapement is such that insmall devices, such as wrist watches, accuracy normally demands thatstructures be constructed primarily of metal. Moreover, the conventionalwatch movements require a great number of parts to be assembled withextreme care and even so, they are notoriously susceptible to damage byvibration and rugged use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS The invention is incorporated in awatch which includes a closed fluid filled chamber having a pistonmovable therein between the two ends. The movement of the piston isunder the influence of a spring and an orifice is provided in the pistonto regulate the speed of movement. A cable connected to the piston iswound about a shaft whose rotation is recorded by the hands of thewatch. The minute and hour hand wheels are coupled together by a stepmovement arrangement whereby the hour hand stays fixed in positionexcept for the last five minutes of each hour. A crown is selectivelyconnected to the shaft for alternately compressing the spring foractivation of the watch or for setting the hands of the watch. Acircular comb is passed over the teeth of a gear to provide a clickingsound characteristic of the more conventional watch.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a time piece whichmay be constructed small enough to be used as a wrist watch and at thesame time be constructed almost entirely of plastic parts.

It is another object of this invention to provide a timepiece of theaforementioned character wherein the timing action is accomplished bymeans of a piston resiliently urged through a fluid.

It is another object to provide a timepiece of the aforementionedcharacter which can be easily assembled from but a few separate parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view showing theexterior of a watch in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the watch shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG.l;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the crown, drive gear and drive shaftof the watch shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view showing the cooperation of the crown, drivegear and drive shaft with the piston;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view showing the cooperation of the crown, drivegear and drive shaft with the hands of the watch; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the minute and hour hands of thewatch with their associated wheels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the figures, thewatch includes a body 11 to which may be connected a strap 13 forconvenient attachrnent to a persons wrist. The watch includes the usualface 15 which may be covered by a transparent cap 17. The minute andhour hands 19 and 21, respectively, cooperate with the face 15 in theusual manner. A crown 23 is included and serves the dual purpose ofsetting the hands of the watch or alternatively to wind it.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, it is seen that the body 11includes a closed chamber which is filled with a fluid such as alightweight oil. Within the chamber 25 is a piston 27 Whose movementprovides the timing action for the watch.

The piston 27 is formed of relatively rigid material but includes a web29 which is sufficiently thin to be flexible and resilient. The sidewall 31 of the piston is dimensioned slightly smaller than thecorresponding side wall 33 of the chamber 25. Consequently, contactbetween the piston and the side of the chamber 25 is made only throughthe resilient web 29.

By so proportioning the web 29 with respect to the piston proper aunidirectional seal is provided between the wall 33 of the chamber andthe piston 27. When the piston is urged downward as viewed in FIG. 4,the fluid force causes the web 29 to engage the wall 33 and thus preventfluid bypass. As the piston is urged upward, fluid force causes a slightcollapse of the web 29 and fluid bypass is permitted.

In order to facilitate operation of the web, the piston 25 in crosssection as seen in FIG. 3, has the shape of a smooth curve and, in thisinstance, is generally elliptic in shape. With such a shape there are nosharp corners which would necessitate folding of the web when in itscollapsed condition.

Movement of the piston 27 during the running of the watch is under theinfluence of the spring 39. One end of the spring 39 is received by aseat 41 in the piston itself and the other end is similarly received bya seat 43 in the body 11 of the watch. An orifice 45 extends completelythrough the piston 27 to permit a regulated flow of fluid through thepiston as it is moved under the influence of the spring 39.

While it would be expectedthat the velocity of the piston under theinfluence of the spring 39, and consequently the accuracy of timing,would vary dependent upon the extension of the spring, such variationhas not been found. 'It is believed that although the force of thespring decreases as it becomes more extended the frictional forcebetween the side wall 33 and the web 29 decreases proportionately. It isbelieved that the decrease in frictional contact between the web 29 andthe wall 33 compenstates completely "for the decrease in the force ofthe extended spring whereby the overall timing of the watch remainsaccurate regardless of the extension of the spring 39.

In order to wind the watch, that is, to compress the spring '39, a cable47 is secured at one end to the piston 27 by means of a pin 49. Thecable 47 passes through a fluid tight gland 51 and its other end issecured to a drive shaft 53 which is rotatably secured within the body11. Upon rotation of the drive shaft 53 in the direction of the arrow 55shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the cable 47 is wound about the shaft 53 therebycompressing the spring 39. Conversely, as the spring 39 is extended, thecable 47 is pulled thereby to rotate the shaft 53 in the directionopposite to that shown by the arrow 55.

As seen more clearly in FIG. 5, the drive shaft 53 includes a transversebore 57 near one end thereof which serves to receive and anchor the endof the cable 47. The end of the shaft also includes near its center aconically shaped spool guide 59 which, as will be seen more clearlyhereinafter, serves to guide a drive belt for the hands of the watch.The upper end of the shaft, as seen in FIG. 5, includes a fluted section61 which serves to selectively engage the crown 23. The drive gear 63 isfitted onto the shaft in the area 65 thereof in a friction tight manner.

The drive gear 63 includes a stem portion 67, a ratchet wheel portion69, a guide ring 71, a bevel gear portion 73 and a spur gear portion 75.Both the bevel gear portion and the spur gear portions have triangularshaped teeth but the number of teeth is different for each gear. Forexample, the spur gear portion 75 may include thirty teeth while thebevel gear portion 73 includes thirty-one teeth.

The crown 23 includes a central opening 77 to receive the drive shaft 53and the inner end of the opening 77 is internally fluted as at 79 toselectively cooperate with the fluted end 61 of the shaft 53. When thefluted sections 61 and 79 are not intermeshed the crown 23 is freelyrotatable about the shaft 53.

The crown 23 further includes a series of resilient finger like members81 which together form a circular comb or annular gear having the samenumber of teeth as the spur gear portion 75 of the drive gear 63. Thusin the example shown there are included thirty fingers 81 correspondingto the thirty teeth of the spur gear portion 75. Each of the fingers 81also include a raised portion 83 for reasons to be explainedhereinafter. The crown 23 further includes a ratchet wheel 85, a guidering ,87 and a handle 89.

In their assembled condition as shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the driveshaft 53, drive gear 63 and crown 23 are assembled on a common axis withthe guide rings 71 and 87 riding within a cylindrical chamber 91 formedin the body 11. The end portion 93 of the shaft 53 is frictionallyengaged in a bearing block 95. For reasons which will become moreapparent hereinafter the frictional force between the area 93 of theshaft 53 and its associated bearing 95 is greater than the frictionalforce between the area 65 on the shaft 53 with the cooperating drivegear 63.

The guide ring 87 on the crown 23 is resiliently held between fingers 97and 99 which in their relaxed position are as shown in FIG. 4. A ratchetpawl or click 101 is formed in the body 11 and, when engaged with theratchet 'wheel portion 85 of the crown 23, prevents rotation of thecrown in the direction of the arrows 103, as shown in FIG. 7. A similarratchet pawl or click 104 cooperates with the ratchet wheel portion 69on the drive gear 63 to continuously prevent rotation of the drive gearin the direction of the arrow 55, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The guidering 71 on the drive gear 63 is retained in axial position between theclick 104 and an annular keeper 105 formed in the body 11. A confiningring 106 having a cam surface 107 is also formed in the body 11 andcooperates with the raised portions 83 on the crown finger 81 to urgeand to retain the fingers in a cylindrical configuration when the crownis withdrawn slightly from the body 11 as shown in FIG. 7.

When the shaft 53 is rotated in the direction of the arrows 103 (FIG. 7)it carries with it by friction the drive gear 63 together with the stemportion 67 thereof. A continuous belt 108 passes about the stem 67 andis sheaved in a minute wheel 109 rotatably secured on a stud 111 formedon the body 11. The minute wheel 109 includes a belt groove 113 and anoffset finger 115 having a detent portion 117 and a cam follower portion119. The minute wheel 109 further includes a hub 121 which receives theminute hand 19 and which is in turn rotatably received by a similar butsmaller hub 123 secured to the hour wheel 125.

The hour wheel 125 includes a series of twelve notches 127 equallyspaced about its periphery. A cam 129 is formed on the body 11 of thewatch and cooperates with the finger 115 to periodically urge thedetents 117 of the finger into the notches 127 on the hour wheel. Afriction ring 131 which may take the form of merely a high frictionportion on the body 11 normally prevents rotation of the hour wheel 125even though it is in contact with the rotating minute wheel 109.

Operation of the watch can best be understood, referring to FIGS. 6, 7and 8. As seen in FIG. 6 the crown 23 can be depressed that is, moved tothe right as shown in the figure whereby the fluted portions 61 and 79of the drive shaft 53 and the crown 23 respectively, are intermeshed. Inthis condition the fingers '81 of the crown ride up on the beveled teeth73 on the drive gear and together take on the general form of a cone.When the crown is rotated in the direction shown by the arrows 55 theshaft 53 isrotated therewith but the drive gear 63 is held firm by meansof the click 104. The passage of the fingers 81 about the beveled teeth73, of course, provides a clicking sound as the crown is rotated. Moreimportantly, however, the rotation of the shaft 53 causes the cable 47to be wound thereupon to compress the spring 39. After the spring isfully compressed the crown is released and the fingers 97 and 99resiliently urge the crown to the position shown in FIG. 4. The watch isthen in a run ning condition and the spring 39 expands against the fluidwithin the chamber 25 in a manner regulated by the diameter of theorifice 45. As the spring 39 expands it carries with it the cable 47rotating the shaft in a direction opposite to the arrows 55. Theopposite rotation of the shaft 53 carries with it the drive gear 63since the click 104 does not interfere.

With the crown in its released position, as shown in FIG. 4, the fingers81' still maintain slight engagement with the beveled teeth 73 on thedrive gear. In its released position as shown in FIG. 4, the crown isprevented from rotating opposite to the arrows 55 by means of the click101. Consequently, rotation of the drive gear 71 causes the beveledteeth 73 to pass across the fingers 81 thereby causing a clicking soundsimilar to that characteristic of the more conventional watch.

When it is desired to reset the hands of the watch the crown 23 ispulled out that is, to the left as shown in FIG. 7 and in this conditionthe raised portions '83 on the finger 81 are held in restrictedcondition by means of the confining ring 106 such that they maintaintight engagement with the spur gear portion 75 of the drive gear. Aswill be noted in FIG. 7 the fluted sections 61 and 79 of the drive shaft53 in crown 23 are disengaged. In this condition rotation of the crown23 in the direction of the arrow 103 is possible since the ratchet wheelportion 85 of the crown is withdrawn from the click 101. Such rotationof the crown causes a similar rotation of the drive gear -63 because ofthe positive contact between the fingers 81 and the spur gear portion75. Rotation of the drive gear 63, in turn, of course, causes rotationof the minute hand wheel 109 through the belt 108 Rotation of the shaft53, however, is prevented since the frictional contact between the shaft'53 and the rotating drive gear 63 is less than the frictional contactbetween the shaft 53 and the stationary bearing block 95. Consequently,the cable 47 is not unwound during the time that the hands of the watchare set. Winding of the hands of the watch in the wrong direction isprevented by means of the cli 104, which, as previously explained,permits rotation of the drive gear in one direction only. Again when thecrown is released the fingers 97 and 99 resiliently urge it to theposition shown in FIG. 4.

Both while the watch is running and while it is being wound the hourhand is periodically moved by means of the fingerllS on the minute hand.In the position of the finger 1 with respect to the cam 129, as shown inFIG. 7, rotation of the minute wheel 109 has no affect on the hour wheel125. Friction surface 131 causes the hour wheel 1:25 to remainstationary. However, as the minute wheel is rotated to the positionshown in phantom lines in FIG. 8, the cam 129 urges the cam follower 119toward the hour wheel such that the detent 117 engages a notch 127 onthe wheel. The length of the cam 129 is such that it causes suchengagement of the detent 117 and notch 127 during rotation of the minutewheel 109 of one twelfth of a revolution corresponding to the twelvenotches 127 and, of course, to the twelve hours on the face of theclock. After the minute wheel 109 has carried the hour wheel 125 forone-twelfth of a revolution the finger 115 springs outward from the hourwheel 125 and that wheel is again stationary.

I claim:

1. A watch comprising a body defining a closed chamber having end wallsand a side wall, a piston within said chamber and movable between theend Walls thereof, said piston extending to said side wall in fluidtight relationship, resilient means urging said piston toward one endwall of said chamber, a fluid within said chamber, means for permittinga regulated flow of said fluid from one end of said piston to the otheras the piston rnoves under the influence of said resilient means, ashaft rotatably mounted within said body, a cable having one end thereofsecured to said piston and the other end thereof wound about said shaft,minute and hour indicators and means coupled between said shaft and saidindicators for changing the indication responsive to movement of thepiston.

2. A watch as defined in claim 1 wherein said minute and hour indicatorscomprise a minute wheel, a minute hand secured to said minute wheel,means for rotating said minute wheel in response to rotation of saidshaft, an hour wheel, an hour hand secured to said hour wheel and meansfor rotating said hour wheel in response to the rotation of said minutewheel.

3. A watch comprising a body defining a closed chamber having end wallsand a side wall, a piston within said chamber movable between the endwalls thereof, said piston extending to said side Wall in fluid tightrelationship, resilient means urging said piston toward one end wall ofsaid chamber, a fluid within said chamber, means for permitting aregulated flow of said fluid from one end of said piston to the other asthe piston moves under the influence of said resilient means, a shaftrotatably secured in said body, a cable having one end thereof securedto said piston and the other end wound about said shaft, a drive gearfrictionally secured on said shaft, minute and hour indicators disposedon said body, means forming a coupling between said indicators and saiddrive gear whereby the indication of said indicators changes in responseto the rotation of said drive gear, means for manually rotating saiddrive gear relative to said shaft whereby said indicators may be changedwithout rotation of the shaft and movement of the piston, and means forrotation of the shaft relative to said drive gear whereby said springmay be compressed without altering the position of said indicators.

4. A watch as defined in claim 3 wherein said manual means for rotatingsaid shaft and for rotating said drive gear comprise a crown rotatableon a common axis with said shaft and said drive gear, said crown beingaxially movable among three positions, means for resiliently retainingsaid crown in its center axial position, first ratchet means forpreventing rotation of said crown in one direction when in its first andsecond axial position and for permitting rotation of said crown in bothdirections when in its third axial position, said crown in its firstaxial position being directly coupled to said shaft for causing rotatonthereof, said crown in its second position being stationary with respectto the rotating shaft and drive gear, said crown in its third axialposition being directly coupled to said drive gear for causing rotationthereof, second ratchet means cooperating with said drive gear forpreventing rotation of the drive gear in that direction opposite to thatprevented by said first ratchet means.

5. A watch as defined in claim 4 wherein said drive gear and said crowneach include facing teeth, the number of teeth on said crown beingdifferent from the number of teeth on said drive gear whereby rotationof the drive gear relative to the crown causes a contact between theteeth at a rate greater than the number of teeth multiplied by the rateof revolution.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,700 6/1956 Schgman 58422,953,810 9/1960 Hall 18896 X 3,043,404 7/1962 Peras 188-96 X 3,171,2453/1965 Breed 58-l X 3,176,595 4/1965 Schwartz 92249 X 3,272,079 9/1966Bent 92249 X FOREIGN PATENTS 122,613 8/ 1948 Switzerland.

RICHARD B. WILKERSON, Primary Examiner G. H. MILLER, JR., AssistantExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R. 188-96; 58-59

